Page 125 of Eternal

The truth.

The memories.

Three years ago, Declan saw me try to kill myself.

I slipped through his hands and jumped in front of that car. The only reason I’m still here is because the driverslammed on the brakes when they saw me running into the road, so the impact was minimal.

But still, the damage was done in every way that mattered.

I sit back on my heels and focus on the music echoing through my studio. I let it take my mind to a better place. It calms the chaos until I feel him behind me.

I smell him.

Peppermint and broken promises.

I know it’s Declan behind me without turning around because his presence is all-consuming. I want to hate him after what Jase told me at my parents’ cabin, but it means nothing now. For that to make sense, everything would need to, and nothing does.

Declan plants his palms on my arms, and I should tip my head back and scream, but I don’t. I want him to ground me in the way only he can.

The only thing more terrifying than thinking this was never real between us is thinking there’s nousat all.

“You’re the one who saved me when I tried to kill myself.” I blink a tear free, and it rolls down my cheek. “Not Alex.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Correct.”

“Why? How?”

Declan sighs, and even if I can’t see him, I feel the weight we’re both carrying around. A kaleidoscope of our pasts and our demons catching up with us.

“Alex and I were driving back from a party when we saw you in the middle of the road. I tried to talk you down, but then—”

He cuts himself off, clearing his throat.

“I ran into the road anyway.” I close my eyes, and I can still feel the car colliding with my body.

“I tried to stop you, Teal. But you were too fast. And the second that car hit you, Alex jumped out of the passenger seat to help. But you were in and out of consciousness from the medication and the crash.”

“Is that why I only remember him?” My eyebrows pinch as I close my eyes and try to see it clearly.

Alex was the one who held my head in the backseat. Alex was the one who carried me through the hospital doors.

“Once we got to the hospital, I wanted to go in with you, but my father showed up and said it would be better handled by family friends.”

“The Lancasters.”

It makes sense. My parents have always been close with Alex and Patience’s parents.

“I wanted to help—” Declan’s voice cracks in a genuine burst of emotion that catches me completely off guard.

“I know.” I spin around to face him.

He’s squatting down, which brings him closer to my eye level than when he’s usually towering over me.

There are dark circles under his eyes, and it looks like he hasn’t slept in days. His jaw is rough with stubble, and his hair is a mess. He’s a reflection of everything I don’t want to see in myself, and I can’t stop staring.

He swallows hard, meeting my gaze. “I wanted to be the one who was there for you.”

“But you weren’t allowed to, right? Because that would go against your father or Sigma House or both? You can’t save me just to hurt me and think they cancel each other out.”